Marking machine for marking successive conveyed articles



T. J. CASEY 3,021,783

MARKING MACHINE FOR MARKING SUCCESSIVE CONVEYED ARTICLES Feb. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1. 1960 'r. J. CASEY 3,021,783

MARKING MACHINE FOR MARKING SUCCESSIVE CONVEYED ARTICLES Feb. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1960 T. J. CASEY 3,021,783

MARKING MACHINE FOR MARKING SUCCESSIVE CONVEYED ARTICLES Feb. 20, 1962 Filed July 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3,021,783 MARKING MACHINE FOR MARKING SUC- CESIVE CONVEYEI) ARTICLES Thomas J. Casey, Arlington Heights, IIL, assignor to Thomas Engineering (10., Inc, a corporation of Illinois Filed Indy 1, 1960, Ser. No. 40,320 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates to a marking machine of a type utilized in connection with the marking of conveyed articles as they move along a conveyor. More specifically the invention relates to an improved coding or marking machine adapted to be connected adjacent to a conveyor for imprinting articles as they move adjacent the marking machine.

The conventional type of coding or marking machine generally comprises a casing having a marking wheel rotatably mounted thereon. The marking wheel includes type which imprints successive articles as they are moved along a conveyer. The marking wheel in turn drives an ink roller and an ink transfer roller which in turn imparts ink to the type on a marking wheel whereupon printing of the articles takes place as they move by the marking device. The conventional type of coding or marking device includes a sponge-like ink transfer roller which receives ink from an inking roller and in turn imparts the ink to the surface of the type. It is a prime object of this invention to provide an improved coding or printing device having a simplified construction including a marking roller and an inking roller.

A still further object is the provision of an improved coding device having a marking roller and an inking roller positioned adjacent thereto, the inking roller including a replaceable cylindrical ink containing spool which is removable and which contains a micro-porous plastic having ink suspended within the pores.

A still further object is the provision of an improved marking device or coder, the said coder having no need for fluid ink contained in a sponge-like roller having the ink contained in a micro-porous plastic cylinder whereby the cylinder can be easily replaced after use.

Another object is to provide an improved coding device which is simple in maintenance and which does not require the utilization of fluid ink but instead utilizes acylinder constructed of a micro-porous plastic construction having ink suspended therein, the said cylinder being adjustable relative to type on a marking wheel to compensate for wear of the plastic ink containing cylinder.

A further object is the provision of an improved coding device comprising a marking wheel and an inking wheel the said inking wheel including a cylinder of microporous plastic having ink suspended therein, the said cylinder being eccentrically adjustable relative to the marking wheel for compensating for the wear of the plastic cylinder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved coding device having a novel camming arrangement for returning the marking wheel to its initial starting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved coding device having an improved marking wheel and camming arrangement therefor, the said wheel also including a spur-type of bracket adapted to positively provide for engagement with an article to be printed and for the rotation of the marking wheel.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings:

I FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a conveyor and an im- 3,Zi,733 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 proved coding or marking device positioned adjacent thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the marking and coding device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a marking and coding device generally taken along the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a marking device with its cover removed showing the interior arrangement of a. marking roller and inking roller;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed view showing a spur for a marking wheel;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed front view of a cam utilized in connection with the marking wheel of the coding dev1ce;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially a marking device, or as is familiarly known in the field, a coder is generally designated by the reference character 10. The marking device 10 comprises a base or casing 11 having opposed vertical sidewalls 13 and 14 connected by an arcuate end wall 15. As best shown in FIGURE 4 the sidewalls 13 and 14 are cut-out as indicated at 16 and are connected by an'arcuate reducedheight wall portion 17. A cover 18 is positioned on top of the casing 11. As best shown in FIGURE 3 the casing is also provided with internally extending cylindrical bosses 19 and 20 and a central boss 21.

The casing 11 is supported at one end on a mounting shaft 22 suitably supported on a mounting block 23 which is adapted to suitably support the casing adjacent a conveyor for conveying articles. A sleeve 24 is positioned in the cylindrical boss 20 and receives the mounting shaft 22. The sleeve 24 is disposed in a vertical bore 25in the cylindrical boss 20. An adjusting collar 26 is positioned on top of the casing 11 the said collar 26 including a threaded bore- 27 having a set screw 28 positioned therein. The set screw 28 is tightly positioned against one end of the shaft 22 as indicated for rigidly securing the adjusting collar 26 to the shaft 22. A coil spring 29 encircles the cylindrical boss 20. Thecoil spring 29 has one end engaging a bore 30 in the adjusting collar 26 and is suitably anchored there. A suitable anchoring means 31 also anchors the other free-end of the spring 29 to a lower wall 12 of the casing 11. The spring 29 may be constructed to move the casing in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 1, or the spring may be constructed to urge the casing in a clockwise direction. Either type of spring may be supplied and this is conventional in the art. The lower wall 12 also has projecting therefrom a stop or pin 32 which is adapted to be disposed in a recess 33 provided on a plate 32' securely connected to the shaft 22 by means of a pin 33'. The pin 32 provides a stop to limit movement of the casing '11 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on which type of spring 29 is utilized. The

tension of the spring may of course be adjusted by simply,

unloosening the screw 28 and then tightening the same after suitably turning the adjusting collar 26.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, a marking roller 34 is provided with upper and lower rubber drive rings 35 having interposed therebetween a plurality of rubber retaining rings 36. The retaining rings 36 are adapted spetnsa 3 to receive and support type or printing elements 37 as indicated. The rings 35 and 36 are supported on a cylindrical body 38 having a cam member, generally designated at 39, projecting downwardly within the cylindrical body 38. A nut 35 on the cylindrical body 38 suitably locks the rubber rings 35 and 36 in position.

The cam member 39 includes an upwardly extending internally threaded projection 40 projecting into a bore 41 in the cylindrical body 38. A screw 42 extends into the threaded projection 40 for securely tightening the cam member 39 to the cylindrical body 38. The cam member 39 also includes a vertically extending spindle 43 suitably supported in roller bearings 44 and 45 supported in a vertically extending here within the cylindrical boss 19.

The cam member 39 is held. against rotation with respect to the body 38 by means of pin 47 disposed in a bore 48 in the cylindrical member 38 and also disposed in a bore 49 in the cam member 39. The cam member 39 includes a cam 50 having an annular cam surface 51 including a high portion 52 and a low portion 53.

As best shown in FIGURE a bracket 54 pivotally sup ports an arm 55 and a shaft 56, the said arm having at one end a roller 57 pivoted on a shaft 58, the said roller engaging and riding uponthe cam surface 51. A spring 59 urges the roller in engagement with the cam 51, the said spring engaging a retainer 60' on one end of the arm 55 and also being supported on an adjusting screw 61 adjustably threaded into a projection 62. The screw 61 may be rotated for tightening or relieving the pressure exerted by the spring 59 against the arm 55-.

The marking roller, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, also includes a crank arm 63 having one end connected to the roller 34 by means of the screw 42 and also being supported on the roller for limited adjustment by means of a slot 64 and a screw 65 extending into the marking roller- 34. A bracket 66 as shown in FIGURE 6, extends upwardly from the crank arm 63 and has supported therebetween a rubber-wheel 67 rotatably mounted on a shaft 68. A spur 69 is suitably supported by means of rivet 70 on the bracket 66, the said spur including serrations or teeth 71.

An inking roller is designated by the reference character 72 the said roller being rotatably' positioned on a spindle or screw 73 suitably threaded into a bore 74 within the boss 21. The screw is provided at its upper end with a socket 75 and a hub 76 is supported on the said screw 73. The hub 76 is best shown in FIGURES l0 and 11 and includes an eccentric vertically extending bore 77 which receives the screw 73. The hub 76 also has supported thereon roller bearings 77 which are retained at their upper ends by means of snap ring 79 engaging an annular recess 80 in the hub 76. A cylindrical roller 81 is supported on the bearings 78 for rotation thereon the said roller also having a snap ring 82 disposed in a groove 83. The cylindrical roller 8-1 is provided with an outer cylindrical surface 84 having at its lower and upper ends annular sleeves 85 which support rubber rings 86. The rubber rings 86 are in driven engagement with respect to the rubber rings 35 so that during rotation of the marking roller 34 such rotation is imparted to the cylindrical roller 81. The lower ring 86 and sleeve 85 are supported on an annular extending projection 86' on the cylindrical roller 81.

i A cylindrical ink containing member is designated at 87 by said member being retained on the roller 81 and being disposed between the sleeves 85. The cylinder 87 is of a micro-porous plastic construction known to the trade by the registered trade-mark Porelon. Porelon is the trade-mark for a micro-porous, micro-reticulated plastic. The composition is made under US. Patent No. 2,777,824. Porelon" then is a micro-porous, micro-reticulated plastic having pores some of which are small as .0001 of an inch in size. These pores contain ink or, it may be said, ink is actually packaged within the micro-pores themselves and during use, the outer surface of the cylinder wears somewhat until the ink is exhausted and a new cylinder is then supplied. In operation the liquid contained in the pores feeds to the surface by a capillary action as the plastic wears. The liquid on the surface is replenished by the liquid inside as it distributes itself throughout the plastic. Thus the liquid is actually built into the Porelon as indicated in the subject patent. It can be seen that the cylinder 87 may be easily inserted onto the roller 81 and may be easily removed by merely removing the cover 88. The cover 88 also includes a snap-type locking means to retain the cover 88 on the cylinder 81 the said locking means including a ball 89 which is urged into a socket 90 of the roller 81 the said ball being urged by means of a spring 91 contained in a bore 92 within the cover 88.

As best shown in FIGURE 1 the coder 10 is positioned adjacent a conveyor having a plurality of boxes travelling successively thereon. The conveyor is designated at 93 and the boxes are designated at 94 the said boxes being suitably conveyed in the conveyor by conventional means.

During operation, the coder 10 is initially urged by means of the spring 29 to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 1. As a box. 94 now travels along the conveyor the box initially engages the roller 67 causing the marking wheel or roller 34 to be moved in a clockwise direction whereby during such rotational movement counterclockwise movement of the inking roller 72 is eiiected' by virtue of the driving relation between the rings 35 and 86. As the inking roller 72 is rotated the Porelon cylinder 87 has its outer edge engaging the type 37 thereby imparting ink' from the micro-porous plastic structure to the type 37 where by continued rotation the type marks or imprints the side of the box as desired. The marking roller 34 is also urged to return to its original position by means of the novel cam 50' which is a. barrel type of cam and thus since the arm 55 and roller 57 are urged against the camming surface 51 the marking roller is urged to return into its initial position shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the roller 57 is in engagement with the low portion 53. The effectiveness of the arm 55 and roller 57 may be adjusted by means of adjusting of the spring 59. The spur 69 and teeth 71 are particularly effective for urging rotation of the marking wheel or swinging movement of the crank arm 63. As successive boxes come along the spur initially engages the sides of the boxes whereupon the full force of the movingboxes is imparted to the crank arm 63 thus eliectiveiy rotating the marking wheel for its successive printing of the boxes.

. Enough marking liquid or ink may be suspended within the Porelon cylinder 87 for as many as 150,000 irn printings. The printing pressure, of course, is controlled by means of the tension of the spring 29 as set by means of the adjusting collar 26. For the purpose of inserting type 37 the nut 36 may be loosened and then tightened again 'when the type has been inserted.

Thus it can be seen that an improved coding and printing device has been disclosed. The disadvantages of the conventional coding machine utilizing fluid type of ink in connection with a transfer roller has been completely eliminated. The replacement of the Porelon may be made without any difiiculty and a positive ink transfer is always provided by means of the eccentric adjustment. Furthermore the printing or marking roller will at all time return to the position indicated to its original position by virtue of the novel camming arrangement and by virtue of the efiective spur which causes positive rotation to take place insofar as the marking wheel is concerned.

Thus the objects of the invention has been fully achieved and it must be realized that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or from the scope thereof defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A marking apparatus for applying markings to successive conveyed articles comprising a base, means supporting said base adjacent the path of movement of the conveyed articles, a first spindle supported on said base, a marking roller rotatably supported on said first spindle, a printing element on said marking roller, a cylindrical cam member on said marking roller, said cam member including an annular cam extending circumferentially from a high portion to a low portion, an arm pivoted on said base, a roller on one end of said arm, adjustable spring means resiliently urging said roller in engagement with said annular cam to urge said marking roller during rotation to return to a predetermined position after each marking cycle, a crank arm connected to said marking roller, said crank arm extending outwardly from the periphery of said marking roller, a spur element projecting outwardly from said crank arm, said spur element being adapted to engage a moving article whereby rotation is imparted to said marking roller, and an ink roller rotatably positioned adjacent said marking roller for imparting ink to said printing element.

2. A marking apapratus for applying markings to suecessive conveyed articles comprising a base, means supporting said base adjacent the path of movement of the conveyed articles, a first spindle supported on said base, a marking roller rotatably supported on said first spindle, a printing element on said marking roller, a cylindrical cam member on said marking roller, said cam member including an annular cam extending circumferentially from a high portion to a low portion, an arm pivoted on said base, a roller on one end of said arm, adjustable spring means resiliently urging said roller in engagement with said circular cam to urge said marking roller during rotation to return to a predetermined position after each marking cycle, a crank arm connected to said marking roller, said crank arm extending outwardly from the periphery of said marking roller, said crank arm being adapted to engage a moving article whereby rotation is imparted to said marking roller, and an ink roller rotatably positioned adjacent said marking roller for imparting ink to said printing element.

3. A marking apparatus for applying markings to successive conveyed articles in accordance with claim 2, said ink roller including a removable cylindrical ink roll rotatably on said base.

4. A marking apparatus for applying markings to successive conveyed articles in accordance with claim 3, said cylindrical ink roll being of a plastic having a microscopic porous construction, the pores of which contain an inking compound.

5. A marking apparatus for applying markings to successive conveyed articles in accordance with claim 4, and means mounting said roll eccentrically whereby said roll may be adjusted laterally relative to said marking roller.

6. A marking apparatusfor applying markings to successive conveyed articles comprising a base, means supporting said base adjacent the path of movement of the conveyed articles, a first spindle supported on said base, a marking roller rotatably supported on said first spindle, a printing element on said marking roller, a cylindrical cam member on said marking roller, said cam member including an annular cam extending circumferentially from a high portion to a low portion, roller means movably supported on said base, adjustable spring means re-.

siliently urging said roller means in engagement with said annular cam to urge said marking roller during rotation to return to a predetermined position after each marking cycle, a crank arm connected to said marking roller, said crank arm extending outwardly from the periphery of said marking roller, said crank arm being adapted to engage a moving article whereby rotation is imparted to said marking roller, and an ink roller rotatably positioned adjacent said marking roller for imparting ink to said printing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,730 Gilbert Dec. 9, 1952 2,701,519 McKay Feb. 8, 1955 2,763,208 Rockoif etal Sept. 18, 1956 2,777,824 Leeds Jan. 15, 1957 2,785,626 Brown et al Mar. 19, 1957 2,909,991 Farkas Oct. 27, 1959 

